The health risks of overlooking the particular needs of transgender inmates are severe. The National Commission on Correctional Health Care has issued a position statement that calls for correctional facilities to adopt policies that assure appropriate and responsible provision of health care.

The newly adopted statement expands on the previous version (issued in 2009) by elaborating on the definition of “transgender” and adding discussion of gender nonconformity and gender dysphoria. The recommendations section also has been expanded and now offers 25 guiding principles. New items address medical screening, HIV and STD testing, medical care, gynecological care, mental health care and more. Importantly, care must be tailored to the individual, with a focus on meeting each transgender patient’s biomedical and psychological needs. The statement also has stronger recommendations designed to improve patient safety.